Bhopal: The issue of a geography textbook claiming that word ‘Gond’ meant cow slaughterer and beef eater rocked the state Assembly on Wednesday. The book is prescribed by a few colleges for post graduate students. Following the ruckus, the state government declared that author of the book Harish Khatri would be blacklisted.
Raising the issue during the Question Hour, Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh said that an MA-Geography textbook titled ‘Bharat Ka Bhoogol’ describes Gonds as beef eaters.
A geography textbook prescribed for postgraduate students in a few colleges says that word ‘Gond’ means cow slaughterer and beef eater. The issue The Congress created a ruckus in the House on the issue on Wednesday. The government announced that writer of the book Harish Khatri would be blacklisted.
Describing Gonds as a respected community, Singh said that such a mention in the book was an insult to them. He demanded that the chief minister make a statement on the issue. Following this, the Congress members rushed into the Well of the House and raised anti-government slogans forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House twice for 10 minutes each. Amidst the mayhem, the legislative business listed for the day was transacted and the House was adjourned till Thursday.
Singh said that a probe should be conducted to ascertain as to how such a book was prescribed in the curriculum and demanded that persons concerned should be punished. Replying to the debate, higher education minister Jaibhan Singh Pawaiya said that Mahakaushal College, Jabalpur, principal had prescribed the book in curriculum. The minister said that a show cause notice was served on the principal as soon as the issue came to government’s notice. He also accused the Congress of politicising the issue.
